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CEYLON BRANCH 



that he might eat him at leisure. Bodisat seeing that he 

 delayed returning, sent the Prince Chanda to see after him. 

 Upon his descending into the water, the demond seized him also, 

 enquiring, do you know concerning the gods ? He replied, yes, 

 the four quarters of the heavens (or the regents of the four 

 quarters) are gods. The demon replied, you are ignorant ; and 

 conveyed him to the place where his brother was. Bodisat, 

 seeing that he did not return, thought, surely some accident 

 must have happened to them, and going himself to the spot 

 noticed their footsteps descending to the water, but no marks 

 of their return, and concluded, this lake is the abode of a. 

 demon : he accordingly armed himself with his sword and bow, 

 and stood near the margin. The demon, seeing he did not 

 descend into the water, assumed the appearance of a forester, 

 and said, why do you not descend into the lake, bathe, drink* 

 eat of the roots, adorn yourself with the flowers, and go on. 

 refreshed? Bodisat observing him, knew that it was the demon, 

 and said to him, have my brothers been seized by you ? Yes, 

 by me. For what reason ? Those who descend into this lake 

 belong to me. What, every one ? No : if any one understand 

 concerning the gods, he does not become mine, but all others, 

 do. Why ? is there any advantage to you from knowing con- 

 cerning the gods ? There is. Well, then, I will teach you con-, 

 cerning the gods. Speak on ; I will listen to a discourse on 

 that subject. But, said Bodisat, I am now weary, and cannot 

 teach concerning the gods. The demon then bathed Bodisat, 

 gave him food and drink, anointed him with perfumes and 

 adorned him with garlands of flowers, and spread a seat for 

 him in a beautiful bower. Bodisat seated himself with the. 

 demon at his feet, and said, bow down your ear at tentively 

 and hear concerning the gods. He them spake the following 

 verse :— - 



